“Milo is masterful but corrupt, parlaying his position as mess officer (in charge of the dining hall) into personal direction of M & M Enterprises, controlling all sorts of goods and services, from fresh eggs to prostitutes. Before long, his business is international; planes arrive daily from such markets as Liberia, London, and Karachi. He deals with everyone except the Russians, eschewing their trade because they are Communists. Nonetheless, he has no problem doing business with America’s primary European enemy, Nazi Germany. Milo even profits from specific battles. When the Allies plan to bomb a highway bridge at Orvieto, Milo arranges to conduct the attack for them. But he also agrees with the Germans to defend the same bridge with antiaircraft fire, bargaining for cost plus six percent from each side, plus a “merit bonus” of $1,000 from the Germans for each plane shot down. Having arranged all the details, Milo has no trouble convincing both sides to furnish their own men and equipment. He thus makes a nice profit by signing his name twice.”

“San Francisco, January 10, 2012— San Francisco gears up for the West Coast Rally for Reproductive Justice, commemorating the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The rally will be held on January 21, 2012 at 11 am in Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco. As banners celebrating a woman’s right to choose fly high on Market Street, the rally will feature speakers from leading women’s rights organizations, like the Silver Ribbon Campaign, NOW, World Can’t Wait, Radical Women, Change.org, The Business of Being Born filmmakers and Slutwalk. Featured political speakers include State Senator Mark Leno and SF Board President David Chiu. The rally will have music by The Raging Grannies and Ziva Hadar. Women’s reproductive rights remain under attack, despite the strength of the Democrats in the Senate and under the Obama Administration’s leadership; Bay Area activists and women’s rights supporters are taking a stand. The rally will be held in the space where in years past, members of the pro-life organization Walk for Life gathered to protest a woman’s right to choose. This year, BACORR hosts an independent rally, free from interaction with the Walk for Life group.

The controversy surrounding the accessibility of Plan B, the morning after pill, is just the latest in a string of attacks on women’s rights. The FDA determined that the Teva Pharmaceutical Industries drug Plan B is safe to be sold without a prescription to women of all ages; however, in an unprecedented move, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overturned the FDA’s decision and blocked over-the-counter access to Plan B for girls under 17 years old. Secretary Sebelius’ decision was based on her concern that 11 year old girls will not understand how to use the drug. The limitations on this drug effectively leaves adolescents, victims of incest and rape in the lurch – subject to the whim of a precarious home environment. A victim is unable to independently carry out reproductive decisions because of a strictly political, not science-based, decision.

San Francisco is a leader in progressive legislation exemplified by a victory this past October. The Pregnancy Information Disclosure and Protection Ordinance requires accurate advertising from crisis pregnancy centers and was passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in a 10-1 vote.

“We are gathering to celebrate our city’s progressive legislation, and the freedoms women have gained since Roe v. Wade,” says MonaLisa Wallace, President, San Francisco NOW. “But the recent attacks on Planned Parenthood and Plan B, as well as the state by state restrictions on abortion ignore science and the well being of women everywhere.”

“We are at a time in our history where women’s reproductive rights are coming under attack on every level, where the church, state, elected officials, and even our own doctors are having a say in what should be a woman’s control and autonomy over her reproductive life.” says MaryAnn Thomas, organizer, World Can’t Wait. “We stand in solidarity with women across the country who have seen their access to safe, respectful abortioncare disappear along with their access to affordable birth control.”

“BACORR partnered with Trust Women to put up pro-choice banners on Market Street,” said Somer Loen, organizer, BACORR. “I am proud to live in a city that supports women, and the banners are an urgent reminder for San Franciscans that reproductive freedom is an essential human right, currently under assault. Opponents of reproductive rights are creating a public health crisis with legislation like H.R. 358 that allows hospitals to refuse life-saving abortions to women. It’s time to stand together to respect women.”

The rally is being organized by the Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights (BACORR) and the California chapter of National Organization for Women (NOW). BACORR initially partnered in 2004 with Planned Parenthood to stand strong in defense of reproductive rights when Walk for Life first came to San Francisco. There was a broad-based response to their anti-woman presence in our city. In years past, the coalition has effectively countered their rally and march. It also evolved in its scope, tying together the demands of women nationally and internationally. BACORR stands firm in the belief that we must expand, not limit, access to healthcare and abortion care if women are to actualize their full potential. This is in conjunction with the United Nations determination that legal abortion is a human right and that lack of access to it is a violation of international human rights.

About BACORRBACORR first formed in the late 1980s to defend Bay Area clinics from Operation Rescue, who were seeking to block clinic access to patrons and workers. BACORR was a rapid response team that protected the clinics from anti-abortion protesters and participated in clinic escorting and clinic defense. BACORR regrouped in 2004 to counter the Walk for Life and to stand strong in defense of reproductive justice. This year, BACORR supported efforts to pass the Pregnancy Information Disclosure and Protection Ordinance, protested fundraisers for personhood amendment advocates and provided clinic defense to local clinics.

About CA NOWCalifornia NOW was formed to take action to bring women into full participation in every aspect of American political, social and economic life and institutions. California NOW embodies and uses an intersectional analysis that enables each of us to recognize the fact that perceived group membership can make people vulnerable to various forms of bias and because we are simultaneously members of many groups our complex identities can shape the specific way we each experience that bias.”

It goes without saying that “politics happen” – but they should not happen on what appears to be the taxpayer dime on lampposts along Market Street in San Francisco. The Life Legal Defense Foundation has challenged the city of San Francisco with a blatant violation of its own city code. This month, inflammatory political statements promoting a Ms. Magazine initiated pro-abortion campaign now waft over foot and auto traffic, as this municipal local marketing tool is abused, allowing feminist rhetoric to take the place intended for promotion of farmers’ markets and neighborhood festivals.

The city regularly authorizes the display of banners to promote “city-sponsored,” “city-funded,” or “city-wide” events or “series of related events of interest to a significant portion of the residents of San Francisco and/or tourists.” San Francisco does allow some non-event banners to be posted on city-owned utility poles, but they are restricted to “city convention facility banners” and “city neighborhood banners.” A typical non-event banner would be the non-controversial San Francisco State University banners urging San Franciscans to “Support Public Higher Education: The Future Depends On It”

The offending banners, issued by the Trust Women Silver Ribbon Campaign bear blatantly political statements including “U.S. Out of My Uterus,” “Reproductive Rights are Human Rights” and “San Francisco is Pro-Choice,” slogans which are clearly designed to provoke the ire of those who do not share the printed sentiments. The authors of the silver ribbon month website reference a 2011 pro-abortion Ms. Magazine blog as the impetus behind the project, which is actually an event only in the virtual sense.

“The city minions who ‘approved’ these illegal banners might have thought that the public would ignore the challenge, but they are in error.” Said Dana Cody, Executive Director, Life Legal Defense Foundation. “We also believe this puts a stick in the eye of pro-life advocates who will be marching down Market Street on January 21 for the annual March for Life.”

A copy of the letter from the Life Legal Defense Foundation attorneys to San Francisco officials is available here.

“Our Bodies Ourselves is one of 42 partners in the Trust Women/Silver Ribbon campaign, a project to increase the visibility of pro-choice messages.

This week, the campaign has placed banners along Market Street in San Francisco to “spark conversations and to help build momentum and solidarity among supporters of women’s rights, equality and autonomy and access to comprehensive health care, including reproductive health care services.”

The banners display messages like “Reproductive Rights are Human Rights,” “Her Decision, Her Health,” and “U.S. Out of My Uterus,” and include related banners from the Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights, SisterSong/Trust Black Women, Catholics for Choice, NARAL-ProChoice California, and Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific. More photos of the banners in place around San Francisco are online, and more coverage is provided at Our Silver Blog.

Look for more activity later this month – during Trust Women Week, January 20-27, a virtual march will be held with MoveOn to express support for reproductive health, rights, and justice, and to send pro-choice messages to Washington.”

“PAULSON, FALK TO CO-CHAIR YES ON PROPOSITION C PENSION REFORM CAMPAIGN – Top Labor Leader, Top Business Leader Tapped To Lead Consensus Coalition

SAN FRANCISCO, August 31, 2011 – San Franciscans United For Pension And Health Reform today selected Tim Paulson and Steve Falk to serve as co-chairs of the campaign supporting Proposition C and opposing Proposition D on the November ballot.

Paulson is executive director of the San Francisco Labor Council, comprised of 150 local unions and representing 100,000 workers, and Falk is president and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, a 1,500-member organization representing the business community.

“We are pleased that San Francisco’s top labor leader and top business leader are working together to lead this coalition’s campaign for pension and health reform,” said Thomas P. O’Connor, president of Fire Fighters Local 798. “Unions and the business community don’t agree on everything, but on Proposition C, San Francisco is united.”

Falk praised Proposition C, which was developed with input from the community, introduced by Mayor Ed Lee, and passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors.

“Proposition C saves taxpayers at least $1.3 billion over the next decade,” said Falk. “This measure is fiscally responsible and it will help keep us solvent.”

Paulson emphasized the measure’s fairness.

“Proposition C provides a safety net for hardworking city employees who earn lower wages,” said Paulson. “It keeps pension contributions stable for those making less than $50,000 a year. Those who make more pay more.”

“Proposition C has widespread support because it was conceived in the light of day, with a public process that encouraged input and ideas from everyone,” said O’Connor. “On the other hand, the backers of Proposition D bought their way onto the ballot with signature gatherers who were paid five dollars a signature and repeatedly got caught on tape lying about what the measure would do.”

Today, San Franciscans United For Pension And Health Reform also announced the other members of its campaign committee. In addition to Paulson, Falk, and O’Connor, the committee includes other business and labor leaders, along with the measure’s sponsor at the Board of Supervisors:

Warren Hellman, Civic Leader Gary Delagnes, President of the San Francisco Police Officers Association Sean Elsbernd, Member of the Board of Supervisors Steve Fields, Co-Chair of the Human Services Network Larry Mazzola, Business Manager and Financial Secretary Treasurer of UA Local 38 Rebecca Rhine, Executive Director of the Municipal Executives Association Bob Muscat, Executive Director of IFTPE Local 21 Sean Connolly, President of the Municipal Attorneys Association